Experimental and numerical investigations of an orifice type cryogenic pulse tube refrigerator

A helium filled orifice type pulse tube refrigerator (OPTR) was designed, built and operated to provide cryogenic cooling. The OTPR is a traveling wave thermoacoustic refrigerator that operates on a modified reverse Stirling cycle. The experimental studies are carried out to characterize the performance of the OPTR at various values of the mean pressure of helium (0.35 MPa–2.2 MPa), amplitudes of pressure oscillations, frequencies of operation and sizes of orifice opening. A detailed time-dependent axisymmetric computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model of the OPTR is also developed to predict its performance. In the CFD model, the continuity, momentum and energy equations are solved for both the refrigerant gas (helium) and the porous media regions (the regenerator and the three heat-exchangers) in the OPTR. An improved representation of heat transfer in the porous media is achieved by employing a thermal non-equilibrium model to couple the gas and solid (porous media) energy equations. The computational results are compared with specific experimental results to validate the numerical model. The model predictions show better temporal comparisons with the experimental results when the effects of wall thicknesses and natural convective losses of the various components of the OPTR to the surroundings are included in the model.

► An orifice type cryogenic pulse tube refrigerator is experimentally characterized under a variety of operating conditions.
► High mean pressure and pressure amplitudes are required for optimum performance.
► The experimental system is simulated using computational fluid dynamics.
► The computational model must include component thermal mass for model validation.
► First one-to-one comparison of temporal computational and experimental results.